Would this be useful for a 2 1/2 yr old? He is already counting, etc. LeapFrog LeapPad2 Explorer, Green
30644
My son was 2 1/2 when we got the system, and he did amazingly! The day after he got it, he had already learned to write several letters by himself. We had never practiced letters before!But it also depends on the game. Many of the games are geared towards older children.
30645
My daughter received hers for her 3rd birthday. She's very smart but she does have difficulty with tracing the letters and numbers in the "pet" application. However, for a 2-1/2 year old I'm sure that it would be useful, just as long as it keeps their attention. Some kids do better than others. Mine has a bit more energy and can only play for a short time before wanting to get up and go. If the device lasts long enough, it should be useful for up to 9 years, but I'm sure we'll have quite better equipment to choose from by then.
30646
You'd be amazed at what kids can do. Give them the tablet and they just take off like a rocket learning. With a few guided lessons and with just the right apps your child will certainly enjoy using and growing with the Leapfrog LeapPad Tablet. we've had ours since my son was 3 1/2 but my God daughter turned 3 this September and she sits down with it and taps away and watches videos, takes photos and tries playing games. great part is they don't grow out of it for a while when they are that long and its so durable that even if a child has the dropsy's its still safe to use. My son has thrown ours several times and it just amazes me that it still works I can't say the same for his other gaming counsel. You'd be amazed at what kids can do. Give them the tablet and they just take off like a rocket learning. With a few guided lessons and with just the right apps your child will certainly enjoy using and growing with the Leapfrog LeapPad Tablet. we've had ours since my son was 3 1/2 but my God daughter turned 3 this September and she sits down with it and taps away and watches videos, takes photos and tries playing games. great part is they don't grow out of it for a while when they are that long and its so durable that even if a child has the dropsy's its still safe to use. My son has thrown... » Read More You'd be amazed at what kids can do. Give them the tablet and they just take off like a rocket learning. With a few guided lessons and with just the right apps your child will certainly enjoy using and growing with the Leapfrog LeapPad Tablet. we've had ours since my son was 3 1/2 but my God daughter turned 3 this September and she sits down with it and taps away and watches videos, takes photos and tries playing games. great part is they don't grow out of it for a while when they are that long and its so durable that even if a child has the dropsy's its still safe to use. My son has thrown ours several times and it just amazes me that it still works I can't say the same for his other gaming counsel. « Show Less
1059922
Our daughter had the original LeapPad, now the LeapPad 2. The Olivia game worked with both... and she loves it.
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I bought my daughter a DS when she turned 4, and she is now 6 1/2 and has just started playing it a bit more. I thought about the Leappad for her, but since she doesn't play her DS much, I will probably opt out or load up a netbook with educational games for her. She loves cameras and taking videos though, and I thought it would be good for that. Do you guys have anything else you can suggest for a 6 1/2 year old who can work my smartphone better than I can? It should be able to take pictures, videos, be sturdy, and offer educational games geared at older children. She is in the first grade, but is reading at a third grade level. I bought my daughter a DS when she turned 4, and she is now 6 1/2 and has just started playing it a bit more. I thought about the Leappad for her, but since she doesn't play her DS much, I will probably opt out or load up a netbook with educational games for her. She loves cameras and taking videos though, and I thought it would be good for that. Do you guys have anything else you can suggest for a 6 1/2 year old who can work my smartphone better than I can? It should be able to take pictures, videos, be sturdy, and offer educational games geared at older children. She is in the first... » Read More I bought my daughter a DS when she turned 4, and she is now 6 1/2 and has just started playing it a bit more. I thought about the Leappad for her, but since she doesn't play her DS much, I will probably opt out or load up a netbook with educational games for her. She loves cameras and taking videos though, and I thought it would be good for that. Do you guys have anything else you can suggest for a 6 1/2 year old who can work my smartphone better than I can? It should be able to take pictures, videos, be sturdy, and offer educational games geared at older children. She is in the first grade, but is reading at a third grade level. « Show Less
2146549
Yes, leap pad 2 uses batteries like crazy, it's much easier to just plug it in when in use
2046985
the kids have a leappad2....and as long as it says "explorer" on the front...it works on this leap pad!!
1155853
I agree wholeheartedly that it depends on the child. Our daughter received her ds at 5 and had no problems using it right away. Our son just turned 3 and we're considering purchasing something similar for him because he already knows how to do some things on the computer and work portions of my iphone. If you think the stylus may be too difficult for him to handle at this age, go with the leapster or let them try an old gameboy perhaps.
1139701
That's really up to you. The advantage for us was that there are reading programs (the ultra books) that only work on the LeapPad. That and my boys have lost the Explorer stylus and the screen is dinged up and we just chose to upgrade. You could probably hang in until your Explorer gives out and upgrade then.
285226
Yes! All leapfrog cartridges that say explorer can be played on the Leappad 1 & 2!!
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Hi -I would recommend the V-tech tote'n'go laptops to just about anyone in the pre-reading stage of learning. It is not as glamorous as the leapfrog stuff, but it is great for letter recognition and other pre-literacy skills. That's in the twenty buck range. The Leapster 2 by leapfrog also does not need a home pc to set it up, though you can use one to access some of the advanced features it is completely unnecessary from a child's perspective to enjoy the system. Those retail for about seventy, but are regularly on sale for forty or fifty. The cartridge games are expensive, but do go on sale from time to time. My daughter loved her v-tech laptop and she loves her Leapster too. Hi -I would recommend the V-tech tote'n'go laptops to just about anyone in the pre-reading stage of learning. It is not as glamorous as the leapfrog stuff, but it is great for letter recognition and other pre-literacy skills. That's in the twenty buck range. The Leapster 2 by leapfrog also does not need a home pc to set it up, though you can use one to access some of the advanced features it is completely unnecessary from a child's perspective to enjoy the system. Those retail for about seventy, but are regularly on sale for forty or fifty. The cartridge games are expensive, but... » Read More Hi -I would recommend the V-tech tote'n'go laptops to just about anyone in the pre-reading stage of learning. It is not as glamorous as the leapfrog stuff, but it is great for letter recognition and other pre-literacy skills. That's in the twenty buck range. The Leapster 2 by leapfrog also does not need a home pc to set it up, though you can use one to access some of the advanced features it is completely unnecessary from a child's perspective to enjoy the system. Those retail for about seventy, but are regularly on sale for forty or fifty. The cartridge games are expensive, but do go on sale from time to time. My daughter loved her v-tech laptop and she loves her Leapster too. « Show Less
453943
My oldest likes to play on my youngest's LeapPad (she's 11), but she finds the games a bit slow, and knows all the "educational" things in the games...for an 8y/o it would depend on if he's ever had any other gaming system, but probably would get bored with it sooner then you'd want.
575604
No, you definitely cannot use this on a Leappad 2. This is for the Leappad Ultra only. Shape, size and location of buttond totally different. I used a green and black leather case when I had Leappad 2. Check for a review I did on that case. It was great product.
695871
Uses 4aa batteries or the rechargeable battery pack for the leappad. I recommend spending the $ and getting the rechargeable battery pack from leapfrog Bc it allows u to charge the leappad by plugging it in. Not 4aa rechargeable batteries... But the battery pack sold for the leappad2 only. Best chage they made from the 1 to the 2. I also recommend downloading games/movies/books to it b4 Xmas (if it is for ur child) so that it won't be so boring when ur child receives it. Which will require u to open the gift carefully, install the cd driver on ur computer and make some online purchases from the leappad online store only available from this cd. Otherwise it will come with only 4 apps that are relatively boring on their own. (The camera function is considered 1, maybe 2, of those "included" apps)
429520
go with the leapster 2. my nephew has it. cheaper games and more fun for 4-8 yr olds. For 2-4 the discovery is great but limited, too much advertising, the leapster 2 is very durable. not sure how durable discovery is but possibly. read some of the reviews on the discovery. My father in law got it for my daughter. And my nephews have the leapstere so they can;t share games. either is great but I'd go with the 2. note there is no camera on the discovery
1155855
I don't recommend a DS for a 3 1/2 year old. My 10 year old loves his DS but his 6 year old brother has difficulty using it. By the time your 3 1/2 year old "grew" into the DS someone will have another, better product. I recommend keeping it simple, stick with Leapster.
1632980
Absolutely! My son is 2 and a half and loves it. His favorite games on it currently are counting at the dragon cafe and the alphabet flash cards. He also loves watching the letter factory on it and has some ebooks. The screen isn't as durable as a Nintendo ds so make sure she knows to be gentle with it. I really feel it's apps are far superior to anything else I have found for educational preschool games.
2092349
There are so many accessories that you can purchase for this product that the list would be too long, but i would recommend the Purple LeapFrog LeapPad Ultra Gel Skin, LeapFrog LeapPad Ultra Carrying Case also Purple, LeapFrog Car Adapter, LeapFrog LeapPad Ultra 7" Crystal Clear Screen Protectors with Anti-Bubble/Anti-Fingerprint, besides all the games available.
738405
We just bought this innotab 2 and love it. We had the fist one, but my little boy kept dropping it so it no longer worked properly. I would wait until she is 4 or so to get it, it didn't make it long at our house due to slippery fingers! Hopefully now that he is 5 this new one will fare better. Good luck!!